Wardrobe hanger



April 24, 1956 Filed Dec. 29, 1952 C. O. LARSON WARDROBE HANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet l A ril 24, 1956 c. o. LARSON WARDROBE HANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1952 IN V EN TOR. W2) 5. Zariam M April 1955 Y c. o. LARSON 2,743,023

WARDROBE HANGER Filed Dec. 29, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

United States Patent WARDROBE HANGER Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, ill.

Application December 29,1952, Serial No. 328,316

3 Claims- (Cl. 21196) This invention relates to a wardrobe hanger, and among the objects of the invention is to provide a simple hanger of the wardrobe type constructed and arranged to be hung over a door, which will fold tip-compactly for storage purposes or for sales purposes or for packing and shipping.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a hanger for garments or other objects and particularly a wardrobe hanger which is operative toclamp over the top'edge of doors of different thicknesses, or over .a relatively thinner car Window, and whichin such positionprovides a member extending at right angles from the door or window from which various articles may be hung, and which member is adapted to be folded flat against the confronting side of the door. 1

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simple type of reversible bracket operative in one position to overhang a door of predetermined thickness and yet which bracket, by reversing the parts, is operative to be hung over a door of less thickness, said hanger including a relatively long outstanding hook-like member, with means to maintain said hook-like member in outstanding position at right angles to the plane of the door, or which may be folded to a position parallel with the plane of the door.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing a somewhat Z-shaped sheet metal member having upper and lower clips of channel shaped formation and'of .varying thicknesses, together with a detachable plate-like memher having ears adapted to pass through openingsin the body of said Z-shaped clip, a resilient wire-like bracket having opposed resilient legs adapted to engage in the spaced ears of the clip, there being means for maintaining the bracket in outstanding position at-right angles to the body of the clip, or for permitting the bracket to fold into a position parallel with the normal face of the-clip to provide a relatively Z-shaped clip member having means for attachment to the front face of a door and having outstanding'parallel ears spaced apart to receive the terminal members of a resilient' bracket-like hanger having spring-like legs which through their resiliency maintain the bracket either in outstanding relation to the body of the bracket or whereby the bracket may be folded into parallel relation to its supporting member to pro vide a bracket member which maybe hung over the top edge or a door or other fiatmember, the bracket being constructed and arranged to snugly fit a door or. wall member of different thicknesses, andthe bracket beingconstructed and arranged to provide a pivotally mounted sup port, together with means for maintaining the support in outstanding normal position to the face of the bracket or alternatively to be swung or folded inwardly into aposition parallel with the face of the wall or support member to which the bracket is attachable.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a wardrobe hanger having a pivoted wire-rod hanging element which may be turnedatan angle of 90 degrees and in one angular position is-so constructed as tofold 2,743,623 Patented Apr. 24, 1 956 "ice up snugly against its vertical support so as to be out of the way when not in use or so as to be compactly arranged for counter display or for shipping purposes, and which at the same time may be swung downwardly into a horizontal position and turned 90 degrees aboutits axis so as to pro-' vide a more sturdy support for one or more coat'hanger's' which may support a series of suits or coats thereon.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent'from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the wardrobe hanger when placed in position overthe top edge of the door with the device depending downwardly snugly along one side of the door;

Fig. 2 is a section on lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on lines 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view like Fig. 1 showing the hanging element in turned and upwardly swung position to provide a compact arrangement for storage or for shipment, and whereby the pivoted hanging element is moved to folding position;

Fig. 5 isa view of the wire rod coat hanger or other article supporting elements; I

Fig. 6 is :a view of the bracket member into whichthe wire rodelernent fits;

Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of the preferred form of hanger'shown .in extended position, and also shown in dotted lines folded back against a door or other support;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 7 showing a narrow type of door used as support;

Fig, 9 is a sectional view showing the bracket reversed to use with a heavier or thicker type of door;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the garment hoop holder;

Fig. 1-1 is a sectional view taken on line -11-11 of Fig. 8; -i

Fig. 12 is a modified type showing theuse-of a single plateto be aflixed to the surface of a door;

Fig. l3is a view showing the manner in which the lower tab or clip of the bracket shown in Fig. 8 holdsthe wir bracket outwardly in extended garment supporting f-pos tion; r a

Fig. 14 isa perspective view of a garment hanger in connection with an automobile car window or the likef Fig. 15 isa section-taken on line 15-45" of Fig. 14;

Fig..l6'is a plan section taken on line 1616 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 1.7 is a perspective view of the bracket member; and

Fig. l8jis a perspective view of a hanger shown in Fig. 10 used as a permanent'fasteningdevice.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the improved wardrobe hanger comprises in general a metal. base 2 of generally fiat stock formed into an elongated generally rectangularstrip of metal having stiffening corrugations or ribs 4 longitudinally of the face thereof. Meansis providedfor supporting this supporting'base snugly against the wall v,or face 6 of a door or other similar'rnain supporting member, which comprises preferably a hook shaped top portion it formed by bending the upper portionof the metal support 2 toprovide an open flanged tongue ltlspaced from the'front wall 2 of the support a distance corresponding to the thickness of a door. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, this flange fits over the top edge of thedoor and holds the support 2 in exactsnug position. Additionally, a projection 12 on the inner face of the flange. member 10 of the door engages or presses intothe wood of the door. to prevent inadvertent removal.

The support'is of sufficient length downwardly along the face 6;of the door so that the entire long support 2 contactingthe rear wall f thedoor provides-a sturdy support for the bottommost part of this metal panel 2. Toward the lower end of the panel 2 there is provided a pivotal pin 14 which pivotally unites a U-shaped bracket 16 to the panel 2. This .U-shaped bracket has a pair of normally disposed outstanding flanges 18 and 20. The bracket 20 is provided with a pivotal hole 26 and is provided with a pair of lug or rounded tooth projections 28 and 30 between which is formed a depression or cavity 32 shaped generally tothe configuration of the rod or wire 34 which forms the pivotal support for the coat hangers or other devices to be suspended. At the center of the plate 16 there is provided a pivotal hole 36 through which the rivet or pivotal pin 14 passes to provide the pivotal joint which enters the base plate 2. The pivotal wire rod 34 is provided with oppositely extending feet 38 and 40 which are spring pressed and engage within the holes 24 and 26 of the bracket plate 16. In one position, to-wit, that shown in Fig. l, the parallel wire rod support 34 is shown as pivoted in a position that is normally at right angles to the plane of the plate 16 having its long axis lying parallel to the long axis of the plate 2. In this position one of the arms 34 of the wire rod support will lie in the groove 32 where it is held by the springiness of the wire rod 34. From an inspection of Fig. 3 it will be noted that the bracket 16 may be turned 90 degrees to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which case the plane of the wire rod portions or arms will likewise be turned 90 degrees to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, from which position it can be swung upwardly to lie flat against the metal support 6 as shown in Fig. 4. By pressing upwardly upon the part 35 of the wire rod 34 it can be removed from the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein it lies in the groove 32, to a position where it will swing upwardly as in Fig. 4 and lie flat against the support plate 6.

The bottom of the plate 2 is provided with a plurality of upwardly bent hooks 42, 44 and 46 from which may be suspended a number of articles. These hooks lie in different vertical planes as shown, and the lowermost hook lies in a different horizontal plane from the uppermost hooks.

Referring now to the drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention. the bracket shown in Fig. 7 is attached to a support such as the top edge of a door 50 which, as is shown in Fig. 8, is relatively thinner than the door 52 shown in Fig. 9. v The bracket member is preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises a relatively flat straight rectangular shape of metallic material 54 which at its upper ends is bent at right angle as at 56 see Fig. 8 to provide a rearwardly extending flange which terminates in two downwardly extending spring legs or clamps 58 and 60, the clamps 58 and 60 being behind the plate 54 and only in dotted lines being shown in Fig. 7. In addition, the plate 54 is provided with an integrally and forwardly extending second flange 62 which extends at right angles to plate 54 and in a direction opposite that which the flange 56 extends from the plate 54. The free end of flange 62 is provided with a pair of upstanding spring legs or clamp members 64 and 66 which are of spring formation as are the legs 58 and 60. Clamp members 64 and 66 are constructed to grip the rear face of the top edge of the door 52, as shown in Fig. 9, whereby the associated end of plate 54 is positioned uppermost and suspended from the top edge of the door 52. In addition, the plate 54 is provided with spaced slots such as 68 and 70 through which project apertured cars 72 and 74 extending normally and laterally from a second sheet metal plate 76. This plate 76 is arranged to lie flat against the rear face of bracket plate 54 with the ears 72 and 74 projecting outwardly through the slots 68 and 70 in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, whereby to provide a pair of spaced bearings. The lower ear 74 is provided with a central cutout 78 and with spaced apart upwardly extending spring locking lugs or teeth 80 and 82, the purpose of which will soon appear.

The pivotally hung support bracket is formed of relaatively heavy steel or other metal gauge wire. The wire of this metal bracket is shown in cross section in Fig. 13, and has any desirable cross sectional shape, but is preferably substantially square as shown in cross section in Fig. 13 to provide upper and lower corners 81 and 83 for the purpose of spring locking in the areas between the upstanding lugs and 82 and the cars 72 and 74 of the pivotal bracket plate.

The support bracket is shown as comprising a relatively long section of metal bent upon itself to provide upper and lower legs 84 and 86 with a closed loop portion 94, the upper loop portion of which extends above the upper leg 86 of the bracket as at 96. This is shown best in dotted lines in Fig. 7. The inwardly directed ends of legs 84 and 86 are provided with outwardly directed bearing members 88 and 90, respectively. Bearing members 88 and 90 are aligned to extend in opposite directions from each other. Bearing members 88 and 90 extend into the bearings formed in ears 72 and 74 on the second bracket plate 76, the support bracket legs 84-86 being under compression whereby to hold bearing members 88-90 in the engaged position. When the support bracket legs 84 and 86 are moved at right angles to the plate 54, the two upstanding locking lugs or ears 80 and 82 (see Fig. 13) maintain the support bracket in this position. Alternatively, the support bracket leg 84 and 86 may by means of their resili ency, move or swing to a position folded against the flat face of the door 50, as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 7.

Figures 8 and 9 show the manner in which the bracket may be reversed top for bottom upon itself to attach to a thinner or thicker door; for instance, to apply the bracket to the thicker door 52 of Fig. 9 the bracket is removed from the top of the door and the plate 76 shown in Fig. 10 is then detached from the plate 54 of the bracket; the plate 54 is then inverted and reversed from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9. It will be noted that in Fig. 8 the relatively wider flange 62 has now become that flange which fits over the wider or thicker door 52 and the plate 54 depends downwardly and terminates in the upstanding legs 58-60 (not shown in Fig. 9). These same legs 5860 are shown. in the uppermost or top portion of the plate 54 as shown in Fig. 8 as overlying the top edge of the door when applied to a thinner door, whereas when the bracket is applied to a thicker door, as shown in Fig. 9 the flange 56 will be at the bottom and the spaced legs 58--60 will extend upwardly of the bottom of the bracket plate. Before the inverted and reversed bracket member is applied to the door, the plate 76 is applied to the back of the bracket plate 54 in the manner shown in Fig. 9 with the ears 72 and 74 extending forwardly just as in the case of the construction shown in Fig. 8 and in the same manner as in Fig. 8 the wire bracket is then attached to the ears to extend forwardly in exactly the same Way so that the bracket is mounted to extend forwardly from the plate 54 as shown in Fig. 7, or to be swung to folded position at right angles to such position is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7.

If desired, the top and bottom flanges 56 and 62 may be provided with screw or nail holes whereby the short or long flange may be screwed or nailed to the top edge of the door 50, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.

It will be understood that the plate 76 see Fig. 10 is likewise provided with screw or nail holes 98 and 100 whereby this small bracket 76 may likewise be screwed or nailed to the face of a door for the reception of the bearing ends 88 and 90 of the spring support brackets so that this small plate 76 with the legs 84-86 mounted in position between the cars 72 and 74 may be utilized by itself as a support from which the bracket may hang and from which it may be folded flat against the door or may be held in outstanding position by means of the spaced lugs 80 and 82.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a modified structure which comprises an L-shaped metal piece having a bottom flange 102 andan angularly disposed longer plate-like member 104, which plate-like member is provided with an integrally outstanding ear centrally of the plate-like member, the car being shown at 106, and which platelike member also has an integrally outstanding bottom ear exactly of the shape of the ear 74 of Fig. 7 extending outwardly of the bracket-like member shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The bottom of this car shown in Fig. 12 is formed flat as at 108 and is provided with spaced upstanding spring-like lugs 110, being of the same shape as the lug 74 and the spaced ears 110 correspond in shape to the ears 80 and 82 of Fig. 11. In Fig. l-2'the plate 104 has no upper integral rearwardly normally extending flange, but theplate 54 does have a rearwardly extending flange as shown in dotted lines as corresponding to the flange 56 of plate 54 in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 12 the L-shaped plate is provided with a pair of holes 112 and 114 through which screws or other fastening means are passed for securing the L-shaped plate to the front of the door 50 or 52, or alternatively, this L-shaped plate will fit within or fit on the rear side of the plate 54, see Fig. 7, just as the plate 76 of Fig. fits on the rear plate 54 of Fig. 7. In this alternative construction the ears 106 and 110 of plate 104 will then pass through the openings 68 and 70 of the plate 54 of Fig. 7 to provide upper and lower resilient bearings for receiving the ends 108 of the upper and lowers legs 90 and 92 of the garment holding bracket see Fig. 12. When this latter type of structure is used in cooperation with the plate 54 of Fig. 7 the structure is then reversible for narrow or wider doors, which is not the case when the bracket member 104 is used alone with the springlike legs 90 and 92 of the pivotally mounted garment holder.

In Figures 14, 15, and 16 I have illustrated a a garment hanger constructed and arranged to be placed over the top edge of a glass car window or partition such, for instance, as when a car window or partition slightly lowered. This construction follows in a general way the prior construction herein illustrated, except that the same is adaptable to the upper edge of a relatively narrow glass car window 100. In this adaptation, bracket member 102 is preferably made a bit wider than bracket member 54 of Fig. 7 and is provided at itstop portion with a rearwardly bent flange 104, which flange is then bent downwardly as at 106 at a spaced distance from flange 102 in accordance with the desired width of the car window 100. Preferably the lower edge 108 of the flange 106 is bent outwardly to prevent scratching the surface of the car window under vibration. At substantially the point 110 the plate 102 of the bracket member is provided with a substantially horizontal slot. So also, at the point 112 this plate 102 is provided with an additional horizontal slot spaced the required distance from slot 110 to receive the secondary bracket member shown at the left of Fig. 17 and which will be referred to here ina'fter. The lower portion of the plate 102 is provided with a centralized trough 114 which is preferably of arcuate formation and is bent upwardly as at 116 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. If desirable, this upstanding arcuate tongue shown at 114 may be substantially wide, for instance, as wide or wider than the tongue 102, in order to form a hook or 'a cigarette. tray to hold a lighted or unlighted cigarette. The bracketplate 102 with its two'vertically spaced slots is adapted to receive a smaller bracket membex: comprising a platedika strip 118 having members extending norrrrallywtherefrom in the direction of at one end an inwardly bent flange ear 120 bent at said plate to provide two oppositely facing clamp means right angles to the plane of plate 118, and at the opposite end a second normally extending flange .122 the outer end of which is bifurcated as at 124 (see Fig. 16), to

provide two upwardly bent prongs 126 and 128.

6 102 in the mannershown in Fig. 15 with the upper ear 120 and the lower ear 122 extending through the upper slot and the lower slot 112 in the manner shown in Fig. 15 and 16. By this means, the smaller bracket provides forwardly extending vertically spaced apart ears for the bracket plate 102. An elongated pivotally mounted Wire-like hanger 134 is provided see Fig. 14. This bracket is preferably formed of strong wire and is provided with elongated shanks 136 and138 which shanks are formed withangularly disposed round-ends'140 and 142, which ends are adapted to project with spring-like vigor into the openings 130 and 132 .of the ears .and 122 of the bracket piece 118 see Fig. 7. In this position the bracket 134'may be folded substantially flat-wise to the glass car window, ormay be projected into the position shown in Fig. 14 wherein it lies at right angles to the glass car window 100. Means is provided, such as the slot 124 and the upstanding spaced ears 126 and 128 for retaining the bracket 134 in forwardly extending position. This is accomplished by the springiness of the wire, the springiness of the ears 126 and 128 and the intervening slot 124, as is evident from an inspection of the device.

In Fig. 17 I have shown the small bracket 118 as provided with a pair of holes 146 and 148 by which the same may be aflixed by screws 150 and 152 to a suitable slot or other support and in a manner such that this small bracket 118 may be of itself fastened in position so that the elongated wire bracket 134 may be pivotally connected thereto in the manner shown in Fig. 18 by having the ends 140 and 142 enter the holes or slots and 132 of this bracket in the manner hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A wardrobe hanger comprising a first bracket member including a first plate, said plate on opposed edges thereof having flanges extending in opposite directions from the plane thereof, each of said flanges having clamp members extending normally therefrom in the direction of said plate to provide two oppositely facing clamp means adapted to overlie and grip the top of a support, one of said flanges being of greater width than the other so that supports of varying thicknesses may be engaged and gripped by said clamp means at opposite ends of said plate, a second bracket member including a second plate having its opopsed ends bent normally thereof in the same direction to provide a pair of spaced ears, said second plate being engageable with one of the faces of the said first plate with the ears thereof extending through the spaced openings in said first plate, said ears being apertured to provide a pair of spaced bearings extending forwardly of said first plate, and a spring metal wire support bracket folded upon itself to provide a pair of legs, the ends of said legs having normally extending bearing members engaging in the bearings of said ears, said second bracket member and said support bracket being reversible with respect to said first bracket member so that the orientation of said support bracket is the same when either of said clamp means is engaging and gripping a support.

2. A wardrobe hanger comprising a first bracket mem- 'ber including a first plate, said plate on opposed edges thereof having flanges extending in opposite directions In addition, the flange portion of plate 118 is provided with an opening 130 andthe top flange 120 is provided with a corresponding and registering hole or opening 132.

The bracket 118 is assembled at'the rear of the plate from the plane thereof, each of said flanges having clamp adapted to overlie and grip the top of a support, one of said flanges ==being of greater width than the other so that supportsof varying thicknesses may be engaged and gripped; by .said clamp means'at opposite ends of said plate,-;said-iplate centrally thereof being provided with spaced openings, a second bracket member including a second plate having its opposedends bent normally thereof in the same direction to provide a pair of spaced ears,

said second plate being engageable with one of the faces of said first plate with the ears thereof extending through the spaced openings in said first plate, said ears being apertured to provide a pair of spaced bearings extending forwardly of said first plate, one of said ears having spaced apart locking lugs formed on the end thereof and extending toward the other ear, said second plate being positioned on said first plate so that said ear carrying said locking lugs is positioned lowermost when the hanger is in operative position, and a spring metal wire support bracket folded upon itself to provide a pair of legs, the ends of said legs having bearing members formed thereon and extending outwardly normally therefrom to engage in said bearings, the resiliency of said support bracket holding said bearing members in said bearings, one of said support bracket legs being adapted to be positioned between said locking lugs to hold said support bracket perpendicular to said plates, said second bracket member and said support bracket being readily disassembled from said first bracket member to permit reversal of said first bracket member with respect thereto to engage a different support.

3. A wardrobe hanger as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wire support bracket has a substantially square cross sectional configuration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 712,492 Broga Nov. 4, 1902 888,032 Peterson May 19, 1908 1,179,286 Crimmel Apr. 11, 1916 1,362,730 Mull Dec. 21, 1920 1,659,532 Long Feb. 14,1928 1,821,722 Neal Sept. 1, 1931 1,822,007 Cable Sept. 8, 1931 1,933,981 Householder Nov. 7, 1933 2,070,408 Leidgen Feb. 9, 1937 2,409,152 Rundell Oct. 8, 1946 2,447,128 Logan Aug. 17, 1948 

